1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Study Headquarters 3 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: dot com. You're listening to the chapter today Audio Bible. 4 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: I'm John Stangi, and today we're in Second King's chapter five, 5 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 1: and this is what we read. The King of Aram 6 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: had great admiration for Naman, the commander of his army, 7 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. 8 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: But though Naman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy. 9 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 1: At this time, Arami and raiders had invaded the land 10 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl 11 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: who had been given to Naman's wife as a maid. 12 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: One day, the girl said to her mistress, I wish 13 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. 14 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: He would heal him of his lepre see. So Naman 15 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: told the king what the young girl from Israel had said, 16 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: Go and visit the prophet. The King of Aram told him, 17 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: I will send a letter of introduction for you to 18 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 1: take to the King of Israel. So Naman started out 19 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: carrying as gifts seven hundred and fifty pounds of silver, 20 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty pounds of gold, and ten sets 21 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: of clothing. The letter to the King of Israel said, 22 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: with this letter, I present my servant Naman. I want 23 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:36,759 Speaker 1: you to heal him of his leprosy. When the King 24 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 1: of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in 25 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 1: dismay and said, am I God that I can give 26 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 1: life and take it away? Why is this man asking 27 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: me to heal someone with leprosy. I can see that 28 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: he's just trying to pick a fight with me. But 29 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the King 30 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent 31 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: this message to him, Why are you so upset? Send 32 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,920 Speaker 1: Namon to me and he will learn that there is 33 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: a true prophet here in Israel. So Namon went with 34 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: his horses in chariots and waited at the door of 35 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:21,119 Speaker 1: Elisha's house. But Elishah sent a messenger out to him 36 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: with this message, go and wash yourself seven times in 37 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: the Jordan river. Then your skin will be restored and 38 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 1: you will be healed of your leprosy. But Namon became 39 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: angry and stalked away. I thought he would certainly come 40 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: out to meet me, he said, I expected him to 41 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 1: wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the 42 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: name of the Lord is God and heal me. Aren't 43 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: the rivers of Damascus, the Abinah, and the far far 44 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:53,679 Speaker 1: better than any of the rivers of Israel. Why shouldn't 45 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 1: I wash in them and be healed. So Naman turned 46 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: and went away in a rage. But his officers tried 47 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: to reason with him and said, Sir, if the prophet 48 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 1: had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn't you 49 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 1: have done it? So you should certainly obey him when 50 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 1: he says, simply go and wash and be cured. So 51 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: Naman went down to the Jordan river and dipped himself 52 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: seven times as the Man of God had instructed him, 53 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 1: and his skin became as healthy as the skin of 54 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:30,079 Speaker 1: a young child, and he was healed. Then Namon and 55 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: his entire party went back to find the Man of God. 56 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: They stood before him, and Namon said, now I know 57 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: that there is no God in all the world except 58 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: in Israel, So please accept a gift from your servant. 59 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: But Elisha replied, as surely as the Lord lives whom 60 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: I serve, I will not accept any gifts. And though 61 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: Namon urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused. Then 62 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: Namon said, all right, but please allow me to load 63 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: two of my mules with earth from this place, and 64 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: I will take it back home with me. From now on, 65 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to 66 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: any other God except the Lord. However, may the Lord 67 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,840 Speaker 1: pardon me in this one thing. When my master, the King, 68 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 1: goes into the temple of the God remen to worship 69 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 1: there and leans on my arm, may the Lord pardon 70 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: me when I bow too, go in peace? Elisha said. 71 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: So Naman started home again. But Gahazi, the servant of Elisha, 72 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,799 Speaker 1: the man of God, said to himself, my master should 73 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: not have let this Aramian get away without accepting any 74 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: of his gifts. As surely as the Lord lives, I 75 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: will chase after him and get something from him. So 76 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: Gahazi set off after Naman. When Namon saw Gahazi running 77 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: after him, he he climbed down from his chariot and 78 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: went to meet him. Is everything all right, Naman asked, yes. 79 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,479 Speaker 1: Gahazi said, but my master has sent me to tell 80 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: you that two young prophets from the hill country of 81 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 1: Ephrium have just arrived. He would like seventy five pounds 82 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 1: of silver and two sets of clothing to give to them. 83 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 1: By all means, take twice as much silver name and insisted. 84 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: He gave him two sets of clothing, tied up the 85 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 1: money in two bags, and sent two of his servants 86 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:34,359 Speaker 1: to carry the gifts for Gahazi. But when they arrived 87 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 1: at the citadel, Gahazi took the gifts from the servants 88 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 1: and sent the men back. Then he went and hid 89 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 1: the gifts inside the house. When he went to his master, 90 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:50,559 Speaker 1: Elisha asked him, where have you been, Gahazi. I haven't 91 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: been anywhere, he replied, But Elishah asked him, don't you 92 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: realize that I was there in spirit when Naman stepped 93 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: down from his chariot to meet you. Is this the 94 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 1: time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, 95 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: sheep and cattle, and male and female servants. Because you 96 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from 97 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 1: Naeman's leprosy forever. When Ghazi left the room, he was 98 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: covered with leprosy. His skin was white as snow. Let's pray, Lord, 99 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: we thank you for your word, and we thank you 100 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: for the privilege of being able to look at this 101 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: portion of Scripture today, and Lord, in this portion of Scripture, 102 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,039 Speaker 1: we've had the opportunity to see what it looks like 103 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: to be miraculously healed by your power. And we've also 104 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: seen an example of what it looks like to be 105 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: tempted by the things of this world. Lord, we know 106 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: that through faith in your son Jesus Christ, we have 107 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 1: been healed of the ultimate infection that we were dealing with, 108 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,599 Speaker 1: that being our sin. We know Lord that we are 109 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,919 Speaker 1: declared righteous in your sight the moment we trust in 110 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: your son Jesus Christ, and so we're grateful, Lord for 111 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: the fact that you have healed us from the ultimate 112 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,239 Speaker 1: effects of our sin. We know Lord that through faith 113 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: in Jesus Christ, we will live forever. We will not 114 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: ultimately die if we have placed our trust in your 115 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: son Jesus who saves us by grace through faith in him. 116 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: But Lord, we know that in the midst of our 117 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 1: journey here on this earth, the things of this earth 118 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: are going to seem quite tempting to us. And Lord, 119 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: we pray that we would not allow the affections of 120 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:43,239 Speaker 1: our hearts to be drawn toward worldly idols, or worldly goods, 121 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 1: or the things of this earth. That we are convinced 122 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: are going to somehow provide us a level of comfort 123 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: and peace that we can ultimately only truly find through 124 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. Lord, we wrestle with this daily, but we 125 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: pray Lord for your strength in the midst of this struggle. 126 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: And we're grateful, Lord that you are present with us 127 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: today and every day. So we commit this day to 128 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: your care. Lord, We thank you for being with us 129 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: in it, and we pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.